Player Ratings: Fulham vs. Bristol Rovers (RESULTS)

Slocombe - 6 not really tested as Fulham only had a couple of shots on target all game. Distribution could of been better.

Bola - 8 - their left winger had a massive amount of the ball and looked dangerous. Bola managed to nullify him very effectively. Looks like he reads the game well.
Lockyer - 7 Good defensive display although distribution could have better especially when under pressure
Sweeney - 8 Very commanding performance
Brown - 7 Competent performance

Sinclair - 6.5 Not his best performance but his energy was vital when being put under so much pressure
Lines - 8 put in a good shift
Sercombe- 8 put in a good shift and also involved in some good attacking movements

Bodin - 7 not at his best but always appeared capable of doing something special
Harrison - 8.5 good goal and really unsettled their defence.
Moore - 5.5 Did not notice him much

Subs: Nichols - 6 showed some energy but his main job is a striker and he failed to finish with a one on one although the goalie did well
Gaffney - 6 apart from a brilliant through ball to set up Nichols was not as effective on the night as Ellis
Broom - 6 did ok

Crowd - 8 (Rovers), 2 (Fulham)
Ref - 6 was quite lenient especially when Sweeny reacted and pushed their player to the ground
Fulham - 4 absolutely terrible in the final third. In the first half we looked very comfortable and could have gone in two goals up. In the second half they battered us and although we defended very well you would have expected any half decent side to have capitalised on their time spent in the final third.

Slocombe 7 Did everything competently

Bola 7.5 Played well considering he was playing on the right
Sweeney 8.5 Man mountain returneth
Lockyer 8.5 Back up to speed
Brown 7.5 Dependable
Lines 8 Good solid game
Sercombe 8 Great ball for the goal, quality
Sinclair 7 Steady but effective
Moore 7 Tired towards the end but a good shift
Harrison 9 What a transformation ! Fair play to the lad
Bodin 7 Some nice touches

Gaffney 7 Cracking ball to Nichols when he first came on
Nichols 7 unfamiliar role but seems to fit in well to the team
Broom 7 Brief performance but good

Ref 5 should have sent Sweeney off seemed very average
Fulham 4 nice passing no end product
D.C. 10 spot on gaffer
Crowd Gas 10 superb noise all night Fulham 2 very poor

Players returning to form, wins breed confidence. We still have a very tough start to the season but are capable of holding our own. Great to witness our following who must make bigger clubs like Fulham wonder what it is like to play in front of such a passionate crowd. UTG

Well I suppose having sat next to Sean I should have seen exactly the same level of performance...but let's see eh?

Slocombe 7 gets eight for his handling and communication with his defence but six for his distribution- some Kuipers like kicking.
Bola 7 when his winger had room he closed it down pretty quickly, his instinct was to use his strongest foot which often had him facing the wrong way and passing back to TL
Lockyer 7.5 composure personified turned in the sort of defensive performance that earned his Wales call up
Sweeney 7 got away with a bit of silliness after one Fulham failed attack, then booked when "taking one for the team" that he would not have been able to do if properly punished for the first incident. Hopefully he's learnt from that because we need the solid sort of performance he put in for the rest of the game
Brown 8 considering he doesn't have the pace of Bola he did a good job against his speedy winger and was able to produce much more going forward so deserves an extra point on his rating
Lines 8 started the move for the goal. Sat deep and put in several blocks that ensured Slocombe had a relatively easy night. Was the target of unwarranted abuse from a handful of travelling fans who apparently need a scapegoat and are incapable of supporting all eleven on the pitch at the same time.
Sercombe 8 put through the pass for Ellis's goal and whilst his normal attacking nature was curtailed his persistent closing down ensured Fulham's ball retention was largely in areas that could not hurt us.
Sinclair 6 seemed to find it difficult to keep his feet but nevertheless harried his opposite numbers relentlessly. Not able to do much creatively
Bodin 7 started with some neat touches and threatening runs but increasingly was forced to track back and concentrate on the defensive part of his game, early substitution suggests he may either have been one of the walking wounded or tired considerably quicker than his teammates.
Harrison 8 MOTM composed finish (if only he'd shown that same composure when blasting his golden chance against Posh over the bar) was a handful for the Fulham defence from minute one ...they breathed a huge sigh of relief when he went off.
5 started anonymously ( like my rating for him) Moore did restrict Fulham's ambitions down his wing but contributed little to our own forward play until the last minute of the first half and a decent run in around fifteen minutes from the end that culminated in a free kick to the Gas in a dangerous position

Nichols 6 managed to up the closing down when replacing Bodin, made some intelligent forward runs and looked equally at home on either flank when switched to accommodate Broom
Gaffney 6 kept up the intensity that Harrison started with, almost put Nichols through to seal it.
Broom 6 decent turn of pace, was an outlet to relieve the pressure at the end

Crowd 9 outsang the hosts in their Library
Fulham 6 eight for ball retention and defence but four for attacking prowess
Ref 7 think we may have been on the end of some leniency but I'm not complaining